Mikhail Korenman, the FIDE project leader for the Chess for Freedom program, recently visited Georgia to advance the initiative. He engaged with officials and oversaw the first mixed online tournament involving prison teams from multiple countries. The event highlighted rehabilitation through chess and draughts.
Mikhail Korenman visited the Head office of the Special Penitentiary Service under Georgia's Ministry of Justice. There, he discussed project development with Inga Sarjveladze, Director of the Resocialization Rehabilitation Department; Nana Koridze, Deputy Director; and Vasil Liparteliani, the Chess for Freedom project coordinator for Georgia.
The Chess for Freedom program forms part of broader social and rehabilitation efforts at a women's prison, led by Nestan Verulashvili. Special guests at the women's prison event included Minister of Justice Paata Salia, Member of Parliament Nino Tsilosani, and First Lady Tamar Bagrationi.
At men's prison #16, Director Zaza Jamatashvili outlined resocialization and rehabilitation programs. Korenman also met members of the Georgian male chess team.
On March 5, the first online tournament united men, women, and youth teams in a mixed group on the chess.com platform, directed by International Arbiter Nebojsa Baralic. Eight teams from Georgia, England, and Latvia competed across the program's categories.
In the chess portion, the Georgia Men’s team won all four matches for 8 points. England Men, England Youth, and Latvian teams tied for second with 5 points each. The Georgia Women’s team topped the female category, while England Youth led the youth group, supporting the mixed-format concept.
An additional draughts session, organized by the US National Draughts Federation and directed by International Arbiter Andriy Shetbatyuk, saw the Latvian team win all three rounds with a perfect score. Georgian Women and Youth teams shared second place with 4 points.
Overall, the Latvian male team from Jelgava prison, coached by International Master Sergejs Klimakovs, took first with 11 points. Georgia’s men’s team placed second with 10 points, and the Georgia women’s team third with 7 points.
